Me With the Bigs...

A couple of months I met (and had my picture taken) with the superintendent for the state of Indiana, Mr. Tony Bennett. This meeting and working alongside Mr. Jim Kapsa, and the South Bend Schools is all due to some great kids living in South Bend.

Beginning in April 2007, God began lining up things that would truly change my life. Since October of that year, I have been involved with the Son City Kids After-School Program. I have a passion for inner-city kids and their education. We have been meeting weekly, showing these kindergarten through fourth graders that they and their education matter. Just this year we have teamed up with the school corporation to help the kids as much as we can. The kids are improving in their skills, and we are mentoring them along the way. Each week more than 20 volunteers meet with these kids. I am so proud of them. This is a good team!

Rylan's First Road Trip

Since last spring, I have been anticipating a visit from my sister in the month of October. She needed to come back to the states to meet with some supporters and make some new contacts. As we discussed her visit, my leave from work, and the new baby, her road trip turned into a road trip for her, me, and Rylan. First I had to check with Ryan to see if he could live without us for 10 days. He said he would manage, and he knows how much I love to hang out with Emily. It was actually harder for us to be gone that long than I originally thought. For both Ryan and I. He got sick while we were gone, which was really sad because he was home alone. We survived though.



The trip went like this...

---Saturday to Indy-Stayed with "Auntie (cousin) Kim", great fun

---Sunday to Sidell, Il-Em and I tried to tell Girlfriend (GPS) the way to go...we were wrong, Em talked at a church, I made lunch, Rylan was an angel playing on his mat in the kitchen, Em stated he was her nephew several times to let everyone know that she didn't have a baby out of wedlock while she was away, drove on a dirt road

---Sunday night to St. Louis-stayed w/Aunt Sandy and the Kile gals, Rylan loved playing with his second cousins, he almost got his cheeks eaten right off, slept in Stacy's really comfortable bed

---Monday to Withita/Eureka, KS-new friends, another church, good chili, Rylan and I playing in the church nursery, stayed w/Angie's parents-her dad looks just like Dave Ramsey, met Angie's friend and two cute kids, ate some great dessert

---Tuesday to Harrah (Ok. City), OK-stayed two nights!, loved not having to pack up in the morning, stayed with friends who used to live in Michigan, relaxed in the country, saw the memorial, at chicken fried steak, Em talked to some kids at church, made new friends at church (oh Ernastine, get cuter!), got lost in the boonies, laughed, put a sleepwalker back to bed

---Thursday back to St. Louis-in our pjs, Rylan had a meltdown, so did I, stayed at a cozy hotel w/happy hour, nachos, free wifi, and hot breakfast

---Friday to Indy-back to Kim's, Em got together with old friends, freezing cold soccer games, football and BW3s, Bring It On 5!, dinner w/my pal Erin (so glad)

---Sunday back to South Bend!!!



2,230 miles. I'm glad we went along. It's so fun to hang out with my sister. She was such a good "husband", as she called herself, carrying things, loading the car, pumping the gas. I love her! We made memories.

Oh Technology...

I was so excited last month when Ryan told me we had a web cam! To which I replied, "How did I not know that!?" So he showed me how to use it and I am now a new girl! I quickly logged onto Skype, created my account, and began chatting with Emily, Eric, and Cindy. On Mom's birthday we surprised her with Skype at the lake by calling Emily, meeting Gabo, and chatting with Eric and Cindy. Mom was so excited, she took a picture of Eric and Cindy!

It is actually easier to talk on Skype while I'm doing things around the house. We also hold Rylan up to the camera like the Lion King so they can see how much he's grown. One night Mom, Ryan, Emily, and I had dinner together. She couldn't see all of us but she sat at the end of the table where the extra chair is.

What a great invention...and it's free!

6 Weeks Already!

Nearly 7 weeks ago I posted my due date on this blog. Time sure flies...

Rylan Lucas was born July 9, 2009 at 11:25am. He was 8 lbs 7 oz and 22 inches long! Labor was pretty much what I expected, minus the vomiting. That made it way worse. We were at the hospital 17 hours before he was born. It was a very long night for Ryan. He didn't complain one bit but said later that he thought it went on forever.

We are just enamored by Rylan. Everyday we feel like he does something new, or makes a new face. It is such a great change. I am blessed to be able to stay home until January and hang out with the little guy. We spend our days feeding, playing, and sleeping. We do go out and about frequently. Our schedule is working out very well. The three of us are a good team.

Today we go to the doctor for Rylan's check-up. We are so anxious to see how he's grown.

Due Today!

Today is the official due date for this baby! We are still awaiting his arrival. I am anxious now. Not uncomfortable, or complaining, but excited and ready. I was trying to think of what this can be related to, this waiting, but I can't think of anything exactly like this. It's like vacation, a wedding, and Christmas all rolled into one, however, those events have specific dates and times. I'm so thankful that I am not miserable or scared and just excited. Everything is ready and so are we! My how things are so different than last year at this time! God's timing is perfect, and I have really experienced that in my life. I am thankful for that.

So as I continue to wait, I am getting a few small tasks done, while playing a lot of solitare. This afternoon I am going to go walk in the mall to see if I can get something going. I really don't want to ruin Uncle Dave's party tomorrow, but it's not all about me anymore. :) There have been some signs of labor, but there is never a set time. This process is a great experience!

America's Favorite Pastime

This year, Ryan took a giant leap and started a little league team with the boys we work with through Son City Kids. Our good friend Andy came along side of him and was fully committed each week. The two of them taught, coached, disciplined, refereed, mentored, and loved on 15 boys from inner city South Bend. I couldn't be more proud of them. We had our ups and downs but the boys began to understand the game and became a team. We were an exception to the Matthys/Little League rules while making an impact on not only the boys but the Little League community. We are thankful for the support of the organization. People are inspired by what Coach Ryan and Coach Andy took on this spring, the families were excited, we got parents involved in their kids lives. Our only hope and prayer is that we can continue to pour into these boys' (and others) lives as we take more steps. It was so great to watch these kids feel proud of their accomplishments and improvements. It was blissful watching them go crazy as one of their teammates would run toward home plate. Safe or not, they sure did hoot and hollar!

We had great support and prayer throughout the season. What a blessing! It is fun to see Jesus on the ball field.

The Lake

Last fall, Mom and Roger bought a lake house on Eagle Lake near Uncle Dave and Aunt Susie's house. It is a ranch home that needed some major TLC. Mom and Roger will retire there someday. We (the family) have been renovating the house...top to bottom, every room. In the last couple of weeks it is really coming together though it is getting harder to work with the nice weather and the lovely deck outside.

Being at the lake is really relaxing just listening to the water and watching the ducks float by. The boys are really into fishing with Lunkers being our new favorite store. Good thing it's on the way to the lake. I have not done any boating or swimming due to being 9 months pregnant but am looking forward to those things at the end of the summer. I'm pretty sure the neighbors don't need to see this belly sticking out of a bikini. They may send Mom and Rog packing.

We're having a great time! Painting, cleaning, eating, sitting...never a dull moment. We have the bathing suit, sun hat, sun sheild, and sunscreen ready for Baby Kring when he arrives! I love summer!